Bilingual, Biliterate, Bicultural Conference Next Weekend at TAMIU

The meaning of being bilingual, bicultural and biliterate
today will be explored in a conference next weekend
(March 28-29)at Texas A&M International University.

The Conference, "Bilingual, Biliterate, &
Bicultural: Goals Within our Reach," is organized
by the TAMIU College of Education, and aims to offer
local and area teachers a professional development
opportunity.

" We hope to help teachers become more aware of
the methodologies and strategies that will develop
proficiencies in languages as well as to develop the
academic language proficiency skills that help bilingual
students to achieve academic success," said Dr.
Rosa Maria Vida, dean of the College of Education.

Conference organizer and associate professor of education
Dr. Miroslava Vargas said the Conference is the first
regional bilingual education conference of its kind
in Laredo.

"We've assembled an outstanding number of presenters
who will help to bring this Conference's message to
life," Dr. Vargas explained.

Current teachers, students planning on entering the
career and administrators, should find the Conference
of interest, she noted.

Conference cost is $40.00 per participant and includes
a luncheon on Saturday. Registration is on a first
come-first served basis and can be coordinated by calling
any of the following: TAMIU: Patricia Lozano, 326.2688;
Laredo Independent School District: Romeo Romero, 795-3459;
United Independent School District, Patricia Uribe,
717.6248 or Yolanda Rodriguez at the Texas Migrant
Council, 722.5174.

Proceeds from the Conference will support TAMIU Bilingual
Education Student Scholarships. In addition to presentations
by guest lecturers, interest sessions will be offered
on the Conference theme. A panel of administrators
from local school districts will present their progress
on dual language programs.

Highlights of the Conference will include:

March 28 - 5:30-6:30 p.m. - Keynote speaker Maria Seidner,
Texas Education Agency director of Bilingual Education
speaking on an overview of the current status of bilingual
education in Texas.

March 29 - (12:30-1:30 p.m.) - Dr. Arnulfo Ramirez,
a Louisiana State University professor, will present
Developing Bilingual Proficiency: Challenges and Opportunities.
Dr. Ramirez is widely published and the author of
four books in the area of second language acquisition,
Spanish in the United States, bilingualism, text linguistics
and discourse analysis.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Vargas
at 326. 2684 or by e-mail at mvargas@tamiu.edu.

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu